“As to them, Mis’ Dolly, you know as well as I do that we’re up here half-way ’twixt all o’ Nighthawk settlement an’ the stores an’ post-office down at Beebread. When them folks git on top o’ the mountain, goin’ er comin’, they’ve got to set an’ rest. Ef it’s dinner-time, of course I lay ’em a plate, an’ ef it’s leanin’ toward night you wouldn’t want me not to ast ’em to stay. A barn cat would be civiller than that an’ let ’em sleep in the hay.” “There are other houses on the ridge, Serena.” “Yes, here’s yorn right here, but you’re livin’ by yersef an’ company makes trouble. I’ve got sech a big fam’ly I don’t notice it when a few more drap in. Lots o’ times,” she continued, in an attempt to save my feelings and underrate her own popularity, “they say to me let’s go round to yore house, an’ I know you’re busy, so I tell ’em we’ll go after we set a bit. Then I wait till it’s too late to come over. ’Tain’t because they don’t like you, an’ don’t you git to thinkin’ it.” I had understood that Serena always interpreted me favorably to the community, but I had not realized until that moment how much I owed to her sense of proprietorship in me and my affairs. More eager than ever to reciprocate, I pursued the argument. “You haven’t explained Sunday. Very likely you’ll have to cook dinner for half a dozen people to-day, besides your own family.” “I’m sort o’ expectin’ it. Some young folks told Lonie and Ben they’s comin’ up to-day. You’re always sayin’ let the childern have a good time, an’ I reckon you wouldn’t want me to shet off Sunday. There wouldn’t be much left fer ’em.” She knew I would find this unanswerable, and thus encouraged entered on doubtful ground. “Har’et Drake said maybe she’d come too, with her man an’ the young-uns. She said they’d take dinner with you er me, one er t’other.” “With me?” “Har’et thinks a heap o’ you, but maybe she’ll stay at my house. I knowed her out in Madison.” My eyes sought their familiar refuge, the horizon, and even as my glance swept the hill it fell upon Mrs. Drake, her man, and the five children in undeviating approach. Serena’s eyes followed mine. “Looks like they’re comin’ here,” she said. “They’ll git a better dinner anyway. I ain’t got what I ought to hev fer anybody that’ll climb all the way up here jest a-neighborin’.” I gave the guests a welcome which I hope did not reveal a daunted heart. There was still a chance that they would go with Serena, and my day of sun and solitude be restored to me. The Madison influence might prevail. Unexpectedly I found myself blessing that contemned affiliation.